Bangkok, Thailand :)

I've arrived in Thailand ! It's been five amazing days thus far!! Just tonight I had such an overwhelming happy feeling to be here. Thai people are so kind, hospitable and simply helpful.  The Thai people look out for you even though you're not from here, which is not the case in the US for e*ample. I'm just feeling really grateful and happy right now :). So, at first a part of me was still trying to conceive the idea that I was abroad again, but a greater part of me felt like this was normal. Maybe i'm just used to traveling or maybe this is just exactly what im supposed to be doing :). I was reading the last entry of my blog earlier that I posted on December 19, 2011in which I wrote “Today, I still am not sure if I am ready for what’s to come, but I am hoping and genuinely praying that life from here on out continues to be a life of discovery and enchantment. Although there is still much uncertainty hovering over me in terms of what I will be doing following the New Year, I’m excited. I can only hope that things will turn out well.”

Today, I can share that this past year in a half has been quite a journey. There have been many changes, and for the most part really great ones! For instance, I ended up going to grad school 6 months after my return from abroad and moving once again, this time to San Diego, which I have enjoyed greatly. Living, studying and working in San Diego has been such a learning experience. As an MSW social work intern I was able to work with youth enrolled in a Diversion Program with the San Diego Police Dept. Yes, the police. For those who know me well, ya’ll know this was not easy for me. However, I have to say that it was quite an opportunity and I got a glimpse of the other side, it humanized the individuals behind the uniform. There were many good conversations and I can only hope that those officers that I developed relationships with gave thought to my arguments and ideas. But I can go on and on about this so if anyone reading this has any questions, please feel free to hit me up. Also, if you  have any  questions about grad school please feel free to contact me, I have quite a bit to say about the SDSU social work program. :) 

Anywho, school has once again given me the opportunity to study abroad , this time however, I will be interning here for about 6 weeks at Rajanukun Institute, a center for developmentally challenged and autistic children in Bangkok, Thailand. I start on Tuesday...ecstatic :).

Oh Man! So far, there is so much my eyes have seen already; my taste buds have tasted and oh YES the Thai people LOVE the hot and spicy stuff! Bangkok is such a vibrant and lively city. We stayed in Banglampu the first 4 days of our stay here, which is where the backpackers arrive and most tourists go. The traffic is pretty crazy, there’s a lot of people ! The weather is so hot and humid, I don’t think I have ever sweated as much as I have here! I’m literally drenched in sweat during the day if walking around. It’s probably around 90 degrees but the humidity is so high, around 80% most days. The night scene in Banglampu  is quite eclectic. There are various restaurants and bars with live music for e*ample, blues and jazz . On Tuesday, we went to a restaurant/bar called The Deck, quite bougie actually, we just went for the view and to see the sunset. Wow, the view was simply breathtaking to say the least. We were overseeing the river and the Temple of Dawn was right across the river, the bridge was to the right and it was definitely one of those moments in which I was like, “WHOA , I’m in freakin Thailand!” And what adds to this amazingness is the fact that I’m living this experience with 7 other gals who are kind and simply awesome and fun to be around!

We’ve also been going to one of the best universities in Thailand, Thammasat University. Today was actually the last day we went for language class. We were also learning about the Social Welfare system this week, which I really enjoyed. From what I have learned, Thailand has definitely been working hard in becoming a social welfare state. The social ills of income disparity and poverty still persists and Thailand is moving towards trying to incorporate the informal economy for they do not have access to benefits to healthcare for eample, nonetheless the healthcare system here is one of the best in Southeast Asia, if not in Asia or the world. Private hospitals are about 35 dollars a consultation, which is about a little over 1000 baht. For the ordinary Thai person, this is quite a lot, but there are also public hospitals that are much more affordable. But just so you get the picture, 35 USD for a consultation at a private hospital... that's pretty darn good. Education is also another aspect that Thai social workers admit has to become more accessable.  Education is not accessable and it is quite epensive. More and more schools are being privatized even Thammasat, which is a “public” university. Despite these social ills, which are found across borders, I am very impressed with the Social Work happening here in Thailand. They understand that the redistribution of wealth is necessary in order to move towards social justice.  Social workers want to create and push for ta*ation reform, which they believe will pave the way to redistribution. I was talking to a professor today and he was telling me about the discourse that they are trying to push forth through media campaigns in order to socialize and/or create new hegemony among the people about the benefits of creating a social welfare systems in which every Thai person could enjoy a life of dignity and well being. Imasters and PhD levels learn about Mar*, Gramsci and Foucoult. This is not happening in my program!! :/

So there is so much more to learn about! The political conte*t is also very fluid and dynamic in Thailand. Just a few years ago there were riots and some say that a revolution can happen at any time. Also, I learned at the Hall of Fame museum at the university abou t the student massacre in October 1976, which totally reminded me of the student massacre in El Salvador in July of 1975.  Similarities are many but I think that the most obvious one is that students in both countries were protesting against oppressive regimes imposed by military dictators.  Histories of the oppressed are similar across borders, and I’m e*cited to learn more about the similarities and differences among these two countries and relationship to US. Oh! I was really glad to learn that Thailand  is not dependent on the IMF or World Bank and they don’t owe them anything so I was told. That’s awesome. And so these are just a few things that I’ve learned and I’m looking forward to learning waaaaaaay more! And Thai is definitely a very difficult language, but I've learned a little lol.

I have a feeling that these next three months will be amazing. The people are so hospitalble and kind. They smile back! And the Arjans (professors) are so kind. They make sure that one is being helped with everything. My SDSU professor points out how one of the key things he wants us to take away from this program is the immigrant experience. Even though we are not exactly living it because we have the help of our professor, Arjans and internship supervisors, it challenges us to think about how hard it would be to navigate here without the help of anyone. To be in a county where we don’t know the language, we don’t know the culture and therefore run the risk of violating cultural norms and thereby are looked down upon. But this is not our experience, yet in this trip more than before, I will learn more about the difficulties of living in another place that is not one’s own.  I cannot help but think about my own parent’s experience and feel the more admiration and love for them.  Words I'm sure could not e*press the level of difficulty they e*perienced in such an individualistic culture such as the US. 

As I stated in my last blog, I wanted my future journeys to be filled with new discoveries and enchantments. So far, I feel I have been granted opportunities to continue this type of life and my love for humanity, faith and desire to help have definitely been key in this process. And I've learned that hope is the over arching umbrella that encompasses faith and love. And where would we be without hope? Hopefully this is what I will be able to leave in Thailand- more hope and love and in the process gain more myself.  I believe that if what we are doing on a daily basis is not helping one or motivating one to become a better person how then can we help others and make this a better place? Lets remember that love is beyond powerful and it is what distingues us (John 13:34). A thought and fact that challenges me every day. :)

Tomorrow I'm off to the beach! Oh yeah! Will probably post a picture on Instagram :)

Below is the first picture is the group of girls and I at the Social Work Administration Faculty in Thammasat University. 

The second picture was taken at the Grand Palace. One of the hottest days of my life!! Never sweated so much before, haha.

And the third one is a picture of the Temple of Dawn. The temple lit up as the night progressed! One of the Best views of my life!

Sawadee ka- Ms. Bua, my Thai Name...given to me by my language professor. It means, Lotus Flower. :)